Category Archives: Anti-Aging Medicine

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As people age, so do their looks. In the hopes of reversing the ravages of time, a growing number of people are willing to pay for the privilege: The anti-aging industry in South Korea is expected to gross more than 28.3 trillion won ($25.1 billion) by 2020.

Yet aging is a natural process of life, and experts warn against manipulating the pace using therapies that have not yet been proven to have significant benefits.

Stem cell transfusions, a therapy used to treat failing organs, have recently become increasingly popular especially in Gangnam, an upscale area of southern Seoul. It was revealed that former President Park Geun-hye secretly received the treatment at a clinic there.

The idea is that once transplanted into the human body, stem cells differentiate into multiple body tissues, that help repair injured tissues, strengthen the structure and function of cells and produce more blood vessels.

Local beauty clinics that specialize in the use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes advertise that their treatments can help patients overcome flagging energy, poor skin elasticity and even decreased sexual desire.

Its probably overly optimistic to believe that the so-called aging-fighting treatment can reverse or slow down aging.

In fact, stem cell treatments, particularly for the use of anti-aging purposes, are not a medical field officially recognized by the Korean Medical Association, the countrys largest physicians group.

There are only seven licensed stem cell treatments worldwide, according to Chung Hyung-min, director of Stem Cell Biology School of Medicine at Konkuk University Medical Graduate School.

Stem cells are harder to operate on patients than other medicines because we have to inject cells, Chung said in an interview with a local news outlet Korea Biomedical Review, warning against the use of unproven stem cell therapies being offered across the country.

Prescribing of hormones is also widely being perceived as a therapy that help people fight aging.

The decreasing level of human growth hormones production in the bodies, which stimulate cell reproduction, leads to the acceleration of aging. So, the concept is that clinics could slow down the decrease in human growth hormone production by prescribing patients with hormones injected drugs.

Experts, however, warn that such methods, although not illegal here in practice, are not scientifically proven as increasing human growth hormones are reportedly associated with heart disease and cancer.

For Yu Byung-pal, professor emeritus of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, aging is not a medical condition to be treated.

If there truly is a secret to slow down aging, we already have one in our body. You need a balanced, healthy diet and to consume less food on a daily basis and do regular exercise to live healthy, Yu said in his book, Live Healthy until 125.

Poor sleep won’t simply leave you bleary-eyed. It’s also linked with stroke and reduced blood supply to the heart, a new study suggests.”Poor sleep” includes too short or too long sleep, difficulty falling asleep and difficulty maintaining sleep, said lead researcher Dr. Nobuo Sasaki.

(HealthDay News) — Poor sleep won’t simply leave you bleary-eyed. It’s also linked with stroke and reduced blood supply to the heart, a new study suggests.

“Poor sleep” includes too short or too long sleep, difficulty falling asleep and difficulty maintaining sleep, said lead researcher Dr. Nobuo Sasaki.

“Poor sleep is associated with cardiovascular diseases … but the kind of sleep disturbances that are most risky is not well documented,” said Sasaki, of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Casualty Council in Japan.

The researchers set out to investigate sleep problems linked to heart attack and angina (coronary artery disease), and stroke.

Coronary artery disease is caused by narrowed heart arteries. This means less blood and oxygen reach the heart, raising the risk for heart attack and chest pain known as angina, according to the American Heart Association.

The observational study involved nearly 13,000 men and women living in Hiroshima. These people, average age 68, were registered for a yearly health check. Close to 800 had a history of heart attack, angina or other conditions associated with reduced blood flow to the heart. The researchers said 560 had a history of stroke, and about 11,500 had no evidence of heart disease.

The volunteers filled out a questionnaire about their sleep habits. Seven possible sleep scores ranged from mild personal views of poor sleep quality to sleep loss that interferes with normal daytime functioning. The higher the score, the worse the participants’ sleep quality, the study authors noted.

Among the patients with prior coronary artery disease, 52 percent experienced poor sleep. The same was true for 48 percent of stroke survivors and just 37 percent of those with no history of artery disease, the findings showed.

The study doesn’t show a direct causal relationship. Still, the results “support the hypothesis that sleep deterioration may lead to cardiovascular disease,” Sasaki said in a news release from the European Society of Cardiology.

Once the researchers took other possible contributing factors into account, they found a significant link between poor sleep and coronary artery disease.

Waking up during the night, not sleeping enough and daytime fatigue were all associated with reduced blood flow to the heart. Trouble falling asleep and reliance on sleeping pills were linked to both coronary artery disease and stroke, the study found.

“The proportion of people suffering from sleep disturbances is around 1.5-fold higher among patients with previous [coronary artery disease] or stroke compared to those with no history of cardiovascular disease,” Sasaki said.

“Interestingly, only patients with [coronary artery disease] reported difficulty maintaining sleep and short sleep duration,” he added. “Difficulty maintaining sleep reflects an increase in sleep fragmentation, which refers to brief moments of waking up.” He said this causes overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and adrenocortical axis, which is the body’s stress response system.

The study findings were presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Barcelona, Spain. The findings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

The moral of the story is sleep is good. Most people need more sleep. Anytime an article promotes common sense as it relates to your health the American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine supports such advice, Dr. Ronald Klatz, President of the A4M.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more on the health effects ofsleep loss.

With fall around the corner comes crisp and cooler weather. It also means that the body is more susceptible to colds and getting sick.

The immune system is a large collection of different cells that have a primary goal to protect your body and attack foreign organisms or matter. Keeping these natural defenses strong is very important for transitioning into the new season and involves a variety of strategies.

So, we look to the experts for advice on how to stay healthy as the cold comes in.Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O., a New York City Osteopathic Physician board certified in family and anti-aging medicine shares his top10 ways to keep you strong for the transitioning season. Dr.Calapai’s stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable results in clinical trials on patients with conditions as varied as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart, kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and Parkinson’s. He has worked with Mike Tyson, Mickey Rourke, Steven Seagal, and Gotham’s, Donal Logue; and as a medical consultant for the New York Rangers.

1. Exercise on a daily basis:

The minimum should be a half hour of walking continuously so as to increase oxygenation to tissues as well as deliver vitamins minerals and hormones to these cells.

2. Be sure to get good deep restorative sleep:

This should be at least six hours every night. Sleep deprivation not only makes us tired, but decreases function in almost all organs.

3. Keep chemicals and preservatives out of the diet:

We should eat as organically as possible, with the diet comprised of a variety of vegetables, fruits and good protein sources.

4. Test your blood for vitamins, minerals, and hormones:

Thousands of studies over many years have described that vitamin deficiency is correlated with degenerate disease we can give me in response among many others. This test will guide you as to exactly what nutrients you’re deficient in, and what you should take. There is no better test thanthis, says Dr. Calapai.

5. Do not smoke cigarettes:

This is a no brainer for most, as they contain thousands of dangerous chemicals, which can lead to a low immune system.

6. Be careful with exposure to alcohol:

This can have the variety of effects that are hurtful to the body if done in excess

7. Maintain a clean home environment:

In areas where you spend the most time, make sure that surfaces are cleaned with products that can kill germs or viruses.Use HEPA filtration systems to capture particulate matter including dust, allergens or organisms that can make you ill.

8. Wash your hands thoroughly:

Wash a few times during the day and avoid other people that have chronic infection, flu or a virus.

9. Try to minimize stress, anxiety and irritability:

Taking a break for a few minutes during a stressful day can make the stress response much less progressive.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently organised the4thAmazing Thailand Health and Wellness Tourism Showcasewith the theme of Thailand: Paradise for Longevity to promote the Kingdom as a destination for products and services for a longer life. The one-day event was held on 11 August, offering specialhealth and wellnessdeals until 31 December.

Mr. Noppadon Pakprot, TAT Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business said, This annual showcase is part of our plan to promote Thailand as a world-class destination formedical tourism. According to a report by VISA and Oxford Economics, Thailand is considered as one of Asias top medical tourism destinations. Thailand now has 58 JCI-accredited hospitals, more than any other Southeast Asian country.

During the one-day showcase, 44 health and wellness professionals across the entire range of medial disciplines attended the event to promote Thailands health and wellness products to raise international awareness. Medical tourism facilitators and travel agencies from 30 countries worldwide also discussed business deals with participating health and wellness providers.

The event highlighted why Thailand is a Paradise for Longevity and an emerging leader in the field of Functional and Regenerative Medicine. Thailand is the first and only country in Asia with hospitals specialising in Functional & Regenerative Medicine, including Better Being Hospital and Mali Interdisciplinary Hospital.

Thailand is also Asias anti-aging centre leader with 500 medical specialists in this sector, the largest number of American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine-certified medical professionals in the region.

The Royal Thai Government has approved90-day visasfor patients and medical visitors from Cambodia, Lao PDR., Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) as well as from the Peoples Republic of China in a bid to boost Thailands medical tourism. This was put in place in 22 March, this year.

In addition, long-stay 10-year visas are now available for senior nationals of 14 countries including: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

TAT is also partnering with Royal Orchid Plus to offer special health and wellness tourism packages until 31 December to help promote medical tourism. This includes an invitation to Royal Orchid Plus Platinum and Gold members to visit Thailand, supported by special packages from leading hospitals and clinics, for complimentary health check-ups.

“This is one of the most exciting fields in all of medicine or science at the moment,” said Dr. James Kirkland, director of the Kogod Center on Aging at the Mayo Clinic and lead author of the new paper.

Senescent cells play a role in many age-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, most cancers, dementia, arthritis, osteoporosis and blindness, Kirkland said. Therefore, senolytic drugs are a possible treatment approach for such diseases.

As a practicing physician, Kirkland said that he has grown increasingly concerned for his patients who are sick with many of these age-related conditions.

“The same processes that cause aging seem to be the root causes of age-related diseases,” he said. “Why not target the root cause of all of these things? That would have been a pipe dream until a few years back.”

Fourteen senolytic drugs have been discovered and are being actively studied, 11 of which Kirkland’s colleagues and their collaborators found, he said.

Are these age-modifying drugs ready for human trials?

Scientists have long known that certain processes influence your body’s aging on the cellular level, according to the paper. Those processes include inflammation, changes in your DNA, cell damage or dysfunction and the accumulation of senescent cells.

It turns out that those processes are linked. For instance, DNA damage causes increased senescent cell accumulation, Kirkland said.

So an intervention that targets senescent cells could attenuate other aging processes as well, according to the new paper. That is, once such an intervention is tested for efficacy and safety.

“I think senolytic drugs have a great future. If it is proven that it can reduce senescent cells and rejuvenate tissues or organs, it may be one of our potential best treatments for age-related diseases,” said Dr. Kang Zhang, founding director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the new paper.

“So we will have to wait for clinical trials to see whether this would work in humans,” he said. “One possible clinical trial strategy is to test this class of drugs in an age-related disease, such as neurodegeneration, like Parkinson’s disease, to see if it can reduce clinical severity of the disease and improve tissue functions.”

In the new paper, the researchers wrote that potential clinical trial scenarios include testing whether senolytic drugs could alleviate multiple chronic diseases in a single patient or whether such drugs could treat conditions that involve senescent cell accumulation in one location in the body, such as osteoarthritis.

Other potential clinical trial scenarios include testing whether the drugs could alleviate frailty in older adults or could treat conditions associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, since radiation can produce cellular senescence, Kirkland said.

For instance, “in mice, if you treat one leg with enough radiation, after three months, the mouse has trouble walking. If you give a single dose of these drugs, they’re able to walk quite well, and that persists for two years,” he said. “These drugs could mitigate the effects of therapeutic radiation.”

“Some of the drugs at the moment are moderately expensive,” he said.

“If we’re able to reduce hospitalizations … the savings on the medical care and hospital side might more than offset the cost of these drugs by a longshot,” Kirkland said, though it remains unclear what the dosage options would be for senolytic drugs for short- or long-term use.

As for how soon he thinks human clinical trials might commence, Kirkland said doctors could have an idea of how well senolytic drugs work for serious health conditions in about a year and a half or two years.

Once the drugs are tested in humans, researchers expect many companies to be lining up to develop or manufacture senolytic drugs. Some have already expressed interest.

“In the coming decades, I believe that health care will be transformed by this class of medicine and a whole set of diseases that your parents and grandparents have will be things you only see in movies or read in books, things like age-associated arthritis,” said David, whose company was not involved in the new paper.

Yet he cautioned that, while many more studies may be on the horizon for senolytic drugs, some might not be successful.

“One thing that people tend to do is, they tend to overestimate things in the short run but then underestimate things in the long run, and I think that, like many fields, this suffers from that as well,” David said.

“It will take a while,” he said. “I think it’s important to recognize that a drug discovery is among the most important of all human activities … but it takes time, and there must be a recognition of that, and it takes patience.”

When we were young, we viewed our parents like they were the most powerful human beings in the world.

They exuded health, strength, such admirable quickness of mind in answering our endless questions, and the might to balance career and family.

How did they do it?

That used to puzzle us, as we kept getting delighted in the thought that we had extraordinary human beings playing the role of mom and dad.

At first, we begin to blame our society or the world in general for the wealth of new and challenging problems that people are forced to face everyday. Then, gradually we begin to realize that life for our parents after all, wasnt as easy as we had perceived it when we were young.

As the years go by, with us having our own families, and going through the same stressful phases that our parents had gone through, its right then we start to realize that the weaknesses and diseases that came to plague our mom and dad would also be our unavoidable fate.

Were all destined to grow old.

Today, the global anti-aging industry is worth more than $140 billion and has been predicted to rise to nearly $217 billion by 2021.

The worlds leading companies, including Google, are involved in anti-aging research and treatment of age-related diseases.

From Senescence Info, heres a list of some of these companies and their anti-aging endeavors:

Now, whats new?

The discovery, this time, is not about yeast, telomeres, stem cells, or genes.

Its about molecules. To be exact, a molecule type thats produced by commensal bacteria and one which has the ability to extend healthspan.

Commensal bacteria are living organisms that derive their food from other living organisms. But, unlike parasites, they do not harm or hurt their host. This type of bacteria, also known as commensal microflora, usually inhabit the gut, respiratory tract, and skin.

In humans, the number of commensal bacteria that colonize our skin and mucosal surfaces is greater than the number of cells forming our body.

However, this molecule called indole, which was discovered by researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine, came from commensal bacteria that the team studied in the gut of worms (Caenorhabditis elegans), mice, and fruit flies to determine its anti-aging properties.

According to the authors, and as published on PNAS, the small molecules [which are shown to be] produced by the microbiota and related to indole extend healthspan in geriatric worms, flies, and mice, without attendant effects on lifespan. Indoles act via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and cause animals to retain a youthful gene expression profile. Indoles may represent a new class of therapeutics that improve the way we age as opposed to simply extending how long we live.

Indoles and AHR are also found in the human body. The former exists in humans and mammals in small quantities, produced from plant dietary sources and intestinal microbiota. Whats more fascinating about indole is that it can extend not only an organisms healthspan, but fecundity and reproductive span as well.

The study is statistically extremely robust, remarks Dario Valenzano of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing. The paper convincingly shows that the lack of indoles is detrimental to healthspan. What will be interesting is to see if the same effect holds good with wild-type animals treated [extraneously] with indoles.

Indeed, its a remarkable discovery. But, mankind appears to unfortunately, still have a long way to go in their quest for longer, healthier life.

As study author Daniel Kalman notes: It is a long road to go from the data we present to a drug. That takes careful development, testing, and safety and efficacy trials.

Despite the relatively long road ahead (I say relatively based on the fact that AI applications are on a seemingly rapid upward trajectory and anything is possible. We may have a breakthrough tomorrow or five years from, nobody knows for sure) the fact that new advancements in modern technology are finally offering up some real promising possibilities for ways to reverse aging as a process, is a breakthrough in anti-aging research and the right step toward a healthier, longer life and consequently, a brighter future for all of us.

Sometimes modern medicine and miracle drugs are the answer. Sometimes the remedies simply require a much more common sense approach. Obviously, singing requires muscle and breathing control. It helps exercise and strengthen muscles that arent used during regular conversation. Since all of these functions are affected negatively by Parkinsons Disease, it only makes sense that singing, a fun activity, would help those with this horrible disease, Editor,www.WorldHealth.net.

(HealthDayNews) — Singing? To benefit people with Parkinson’s disease? It just may help, a researcher says.

“We’re not trying to make them better singers, but to help them strengthen the muscles that control swallowing and respiratory function,” said Elizabeth Stegemoller, an assistant professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University.

Stegemoller holds a weekly singing therapy class for Parkinson’s disease patients. At each session, participants go through a series of vocal exercises and songs.

Singing uses the same muscles as swallowing and breathing control, two functions affected by Parkinson’s disease. Singing significantly improves this muscle activity, according to Stegemoller’s research.

“We work on proper breath support, posture and how we use the muscles involved with the vocal cords, which requires them to intricately coordinate good, strong muscle activity,” she said in a university news release.

Other benefits noted by patients, their families and caregivers include improvements in mood, stress and depression, Stegemoller said.

Her research was published inComplementary Therapies in Medicine.

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder. Nearly one million Americans live with the disease. The cause isn’t known, and there is no cure at present. But there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage symptoms, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

Symptoms can include tremors of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face; slowness of movement; limb rigidity; and problems with balance and coordination.

White Lotus, a company known for its products that adhere to the principles of ancient Chinese medicine to provide anti-aging solutions, announced its products are now ready to be ordered from CompleteBeautyStore.com.

Boca Raton (PRWEB) August 29, 2017

White Lotus, a company known for its products that adhere to the principles of ancient Chinese medicine to provide anti-aging solutions, announced its products are now ready to be ordered from CompleteBeautyStore.com.

The company focuses on producing and distributing holistic anti-aging products. Founded in 2007, White Lotus is different from mainstream beauty companies in that its products are all based on principles of ancient Eastern medicine. Anthony and Kamila Kingston started the Australia-based company after traveling around the world to learn about Chinese medicine. The company’s products are now on specialty beauty sites as well as major retail platforms like Amazon.com and Jet.com.

“We’re excited to announce White Lotus products will be available from CompleteBeautyStore.com,” said Anthony Kingston. “As we focus on expanding our reach in the US market, we want to make our products available to all consumers. White Lotus offers a unique approach in the crowded beauty and cosmetics sector by offering holistic anti-aging solutions that have stood the test of time.”

White Lotus is filling a demand in the market for Chinese medicine and acupuncture products. These are designed to enhance skin health, resolve chronic pain problems, prevent hair loss, and eliminate signs of aging such as scars, marks, and wrinkles. The company has developed a reputation for holding impeccable standards of research and testing of its products. Therefore, it can deliver on its promise to provide users with healthier, smoother skin.

White Lotus has a popular line of anti-aging serums. These products are designed to remove aging signs such as cellulite and stretch marks. The jade product line is also popular and gaining traction in the US market. For instance, the jade roller improves lymphatic drainage, skin smoothness and microcirculation, offering users the kind of luxury and relaxation typically reserved for people who come to one of Australia’s White Lotus clinics.

“It’s our goal to introduce more customers to tried-and-true Eastern principles of skin care,” said Kingston. “This new partnership with CompleteBeautyStore.com will help us reach a broader audience.”

New compound provides an observed 90% increase in the activation of the gene’s activation in the animal’s heart tissue

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center has developed a compound called Astaxanthin that turns on whats called the FOX03 ‘Longevity Gene’ in mice. Their scientists measured an almost a 90% increase in the activation of the gene in the animals’ heart tissue.

In a joint venture, The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (“JABSOM”) and Cardax, Inc. (“Cardax”) (OTCQB:CDXI), a Honolulu based life sciences company revealed their promising results toward a new anti-aging therapy

Dr. Bradley Willcox, MD, Professor and Director of Research at the Department of Geriatric Medicine, JABSOM, and Principal Investigator of the National Institutes of Health-funded Kuakini Hawaii Lifespan and Healthspan Studies states, “All of us have the FOXO3 gene, which protects against aging in humans,” said. “But about one in three persons carry a version of the FOXO3 gene that is associated with longevity. By activating the FOXO3 gene common in all humans, we can make it act like the “longevity” version. Through this research, we have shown that Astaxanthin “activates” the FOXO3 gene,” said Willcox.

“This preliminary study was the first of its kind to test the potential of Astaxanthin to activate the FOXO3 gene in mammals,” said Dr. Richard Allsopp, PhD, Associate Professor, and researcher with the JABSOM Institute of Biogenesis Research.

Experiments with the mice the control group was fed regular food and the other group was either a low or high amount of Astaxanthin compound CDX-085 provided by Cardax. As expected the group with higher doses gained the greatest increase in the FOXO3 gene in their heart tissue. “We found a nearly 90% increase in the activation of the FOXO3 “Longevity Gene” in the mice fed the higher dose of the Astaxanthin compound CDX-085,” said Dr. Allsopp.

“This groundbreaking University of Hawaii research further supports the critical role of Astaxanthin in health and why the healthcare community is embracing its use,” said David G. Watumull, Cardax CEO. “We look forward to further confirmation in human clinical trials of Astaxanthin’s role in aging.”

“We are extremely proud of our collaborative efforts with Cardax on this very promising research that may help mitigate the effects of aging in humans,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos, Vice President of Research at the University of Hawaii. “This is a great example of what the Hawaii Innovation Initiative is all about — when the private sector and government join forces to build a thriving innovation, research, education and job training enterprise to help diversify the state’s economy.”

Life sciences company Cardax, Inc. looks forward to further confirmation in human clinical trials of Astanxanthin’s potential role as an anti-aging therapy.

Dr. Michael J. Koch, Editor withwww.WorldHealth.net and for Dr. Ronald Klatz, DO, MD President of the A4M has 28,000 Physician Members, has trained over 150,000 Physicians, health professionals and scientists in the new specialty of Anti-aging medicine. Estimates of their patients numbering in the 100s of millions World Wide that are living better stronger, healthier and longer lives. A4M physicians are now providing advanced preventative medical care for over 100 Million individuals worldwide who now recognize that aging is no longer inevitable.

Use of brain-computer interface, virtual avatar could help people with gait disabilities

World Health and A4M have been following gait problems for years in terms of the way balance effect falling and the progression of aging. The role of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine is to support investigators in their goal of attenuation and/or reversing some of the aging process.

The study, funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, was published this week inScientific Reports. Senior author and researcher Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal is the professor of electrical and computer engineering at University of Houstons Noninvasive Brain-Machine Interface System Laboratory. He is also the site director of the BRAIN Center (Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology), a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center. His teams studies are the first to prove that using an interface between a proprietary computer program and a human brain depicting another person walking (avatar) may help balance patients improve gait and return to normal walking following spinal cord or other injury or cerebral vascular injury (stroke). He says that this is the first to involve humans, even though other studies on other primates have been perform previously.

Contreras-Vidal and researchers performed the study by using three trials with 80 healthy graduate students in the UH Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to provide baseline data. The subjects walked on a treadmill while watching the avatar on a large screen in order to provide increased visual input while wearing a 64-channel EEG skull cap in addition to sensors on ankle, knee and hip joints. The non-invasive brain monitoring helped determine what parts of the brain are involved in walking. They then created an algorithm for a computer-brain interface.

His team wrote. “Voluntary control of movements is crucial for motor learning and physical rehabilitation,” “Our results suggest the possible benefits of using a closed-loop EEG-based BCI-VR (brain-computer interface-virtual reality) system in inducing voluntary control of human gait.” Up till this point, no one had researched whether a computer assisted algorithm and avatar might actually be effective in promoting better gait, balance and stability.

The subject was connected to the computer via the skull cap and sensors so that the interface caused the avatar on the screen to mimic the subject. The study reported increased activity in the posterior parietal cortex and the inferior parietal lobe, as well as the anterior cingulate cortex; all of which are involved in motor memory. Eventually the subject was actually able to control the avatar with their own brain although much less accurately. Future studies will likely be more accurate as software and interfaces improve. Contreras-Vidal said, “It’s like learning to use a new tool or sport,” he said. “You have to understand how the tool works. The brain needs time to learn that.” The subject of Contreras-Vidal upcoming Ph.D. dissertation is the use of this protocol with actual patients. “The appeal of brain-machine interface is that it places the user at the center of the therapy,” Contreras-Vidal said. “They have to be engaged, because they are in control.”

A most inspiring TEDx talk of Dr. Nir Barzilai, (video posted below) co-founder of CohBar, Inc., a biotech company developing mitochondria based therapeutics to treat diseases associated with aging, as well director of the Longevity Genes Project, a genetics study of over 600 families of centenarians and their children.

The accomplished geneticist wants people to know that theres a way to extend their healthspan without breaking the bank.

For Dr. Barzilai, who is also a NY practicing Endocrinologist, anti-aging has been a lifetime pursuit. Growing up in Israel he saw first hand how his grandfather despite his old age, and unlike many other old people, was able to live a very productive life.

Theres a big difference between extending a persons lifespan to extending ones healthspan. Life can be prolonged, but shadowed by weakness and disease.

Extending ones healthspan means that a person enjoys a longer period of youth and strength with longer period of immunity to the many illnesses of aging. Alzheimers for instance, is one of the most feared diseases among aging people. It can even afflict the young. According to the Alzheimers Disease International, the problem is very serious with one person getting demented every 3 seconds.

Dr. Barzilai, who also serves as Director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, thinks theres a cheap but effective drug that can help mankind to attain extended healthspan.

And that drug is Metformin. A five-cent pill thats commonly prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes.

What drew Dr. Barzilais interest and enthusiasm to this drug?

Metformin comes from a plant called,Galega officinalis, which is also known as French lilac and goats rue. Its been used as an herbal remedy for centuries.

According to the writings of 17th century renowned English herbalist John Parkinson, the plants effective for the bitings or stings of any venomous creature, the plague, measells, small pocks, and wormes in children, and other health problems.

In our modern times, Metformin has shown the following remarkable efficacy:

Following Metformins proven benefits, Dr. Barzilai and his colleagues decided that it was time to come up with a clinical trial that would focus on a specific anti-aging drug. After a scientific discussion held in Spain, they decided on a project called Targeting Aging with Metformin(TAME). Its a trial that would test whether Metformin could really extend a persons healthspan while delaying the onset of diseases like cardiovascular ones, cancer, and cognitive impairment.

If TAME succeeds, and chances are it most probably will given that studies have shown that Metformin can delay aging in animals, pointing to the likelihood that the drug may have the ability to influence fundamental aging factors in humans, it will open the door to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of aging as an indicator.., according to the American Federation for Aging Research.

More importantly, though, a possible FDA approval will pave the way for the agency to finally consider aging a modifiable condition and an official indication for which treatments can be developed and approved.

For the last two decades, researchers started comparing the health of diabetics on metformin to those taking other diabetes drugs.

Metformin-takers tended to be healthier in all sorts of ways. They lived longer and had fewer cardiovascular events, and in at least some studies they were less likely to suffer from dementia and Alzheimers. Most surprising of all, they seemed to get cancer far less frequentlyas much as 25 to 40 percent less than diabetics taking two other popular medications. When they did get cancer, they tended to outlive diabetics with cancer who were taking other medications.

Lewis Cantley, the director of the Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, once put it, Metformin may have already saved more people from cancer deaths than any drug in history. Nobel laureate James Watson (of DNA-structure fame), who takes metformin off-label for cancer prevention, once suggested that the drug appeared to be our only real clue into the business of fighting the disease.

Metformin is from an ancient herb and the herb has been prescribed since medieval times. Metformin can cost 5 cents per pill.

Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, like most in his field, was aware of the good news about metformin that had been trickling out year after year.

Barzilai is confident that metformin is good enough to be the first treatment approved by the FDA to counter aging. He has maintained this confidence ever since he read a 2014 study that reviewed the fate of 90,400 type 2 diabetics taking either metformin or another medication. The metformin patients in the study not only outlived the diabetics taking the other druga not especially surprising result if metformin is a superior treatmentbut also outlived the nondiabetics studied as a comparison.

The FDA will not make its decision on whether metformin becomes the USs first antiaging drug until the study, dubbed Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME for short), is complete. That wont happen for at least another five years. But, based on their June 2015 meeting with FDA officials, Barzilai and his colleagues are optimistic that the FDA is onboard. Within five minutes, we were all in complete agreement that this is plausible and a good idea, S. Jay Olshansky says.Thus far, getting the FDA excited about TAME has proven to be less challenging than convincing someone to pay for the study. Because metformin is a generic, there is no pot of gold waiting for investors at the end of the process. The TAME trial, which will enroll approximately 3,000 men and women between the ages of 65 and 79 at 14 centers across the country, is projected to cost $69 million. Barzilai is counting on the National Institutes of Health to cover a significant share of the cost, and he has been directly involved in lobbying the agency to back the study. Robert Hariri, cofounder and president of genetic sequencing pioneer Craig Venters Human Longevity Cellular Therapeutics, noted during the discussion that he takes metformin (he claims that it has improved his eyesight), as do Ray Kurzweil, of Singularity fame, and Ned David, cofounder of Silicon Valley startup Unity Biotechnology, which is developing its own antiaging drugs.

Allure magazine made headlines this past week when they announced that they will no longer use the term anti-aging in their stories.

This issue is the long-awaited, utterly necessary celebration of growing into your own skin wrinkles and all, said the magazine in its latest issue. No one is suggesting giving up retinol. But changing the way we think about aging starts with changing the way we talk about aging.

With that in mind, and starting with this issue, we are making a resolution to stop using the term anti-aging. Whether we know it or not, were subtly reinforcing the message that aging is a condition we need to battle think antianxiety meds, antivirus software or antifungal spray.

The issue for actresses, especially with movies featuring non-aging superheroes staying so popular, is how to stay relevant and in the game.

In the piece,Allure also included quotes from past and present stars like X-Men star Halle Berry, who is quoted as saying, When you see everybody around you doing it, you have those moments when you think, to stay alive in this business, do I need to do the same thing? I wont lie and tell you that those things dont cross my mind, because somebody is always suggesting it to me. You know, if you just did a little bit of this and that, lift this up, then this would be a little bit better. Its almost like crack that people are trying to push on you. Thats what I feel like. I just have kept reminding myself that beauty really is as beauty does, and it is not so much about my physical self. Aging is natural, and thats going to happen to all of us. I just want to always look like myself, even if thats an older version of myself. I think when you do too much of that cosmetic stuff, you become somebody else in a way.

Cate Blanchett (the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok), says in the article, I havent done anything, but who knows. When youve had children, your body changes; theres history to it. I like the evolution of that history; Im fortunate to be with somebody who likes the evolution of that history. I think its important to not eradicate it. I look at someones face and I see the work before I see the person. I personally dont think people look better when they do it; they just look different. Youre certainly not staving off the inevitable. And if youre doing it out of fear, that fears still going to be seen through your eyes. The windows to your soul, they say.

However, Philly native Ronald Klatz, who has been called the guru of anti-aging by Business Week and is the President of The Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, said that Allure and the celebritieshave a misunderstanding of what anti-aging is.

First of all, let me applaud the 29 celebrities in the Allure magazine online article, for living or having lived a life that seems to be healthy and that adheres to anti-aging principles, said Klatz. These would include healthy eating, proper amount of exercise, likely buying natural foods and being blessed with great genetics.

Unfortunately, being blessed with great genetics alone does not always help someone stay beautiful as they circle the sun more than 40 times, he continued. You have to believe that, although age is inevitable, it is not the only factor that causes your body to deteriorate and grow older.

Look at Cindy Crawford, he added. I doubt very many seniors in high school would refuse to take Cindy to the prom! Even though she is blessed with better genetics than most of us, I am sure she engages in plenty of exercise to keep her body young and healthy and combat the effects of aging.

I certainly dont believe in unnecessary plastic surgery, hormonal therapies that are not supervised, or stem cell therapies at the beauty shop or overzealous and completely false claims by creams and other products that claim to beanti-aging, Klatz said. Anti-aging should not be a buzzword. Instead, I believe that credible non-commercial information should be used as a tool to combat ignorance and protect consumers.

Anti-aging is about living healthy and inner beauty, he added. It isnt about cosmetic surgery, solely enhancing our appearance or trying to live forever. It is about getting older with a better quality of life and slowing down and in some cases defeating disease.

While Klatz is pleased that Allure is acknowledging the issue, he said,Magazines such as Allurehardly focus on or promote inner beauty. They focus on outward appearance, pushing cosmetic goods, promote unbelievably attractive celebrities and models and then have the gall to take shots at botox for helping millions of people try to look and feel a little better.

Unfortunately, magazines like Allure give young women unrealistic expectations on a daily basis, Klatz concluded. They make people feel that they have to look like Halle Berry or Jennifer Aniston to be beautiful and thats simply not true! You just need to live an anti-aging lifestyle!

Published: August 24, 2017 9:17 AM EDT

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand is holding the Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Showcase 2017 to encourage Thailand’s health tourism business in order to demonstrate the potentiality and readiness of health service products of Thailand at an international level, in order to create opportunities for health service providers of Thailand. Sellers can meet health tourism business representatives, buyers and media from all over the world to introduce Thailand’s products and services to sales representatives worldwide.

Mr. Noppadon Pakprot, Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business at TAT said, “Thailand has long been recognized as a world destination for medical tourism. According to a report by VISA and Oxford Economics, Thailand has once more been confirmed as one of Asia’s top medical tourism destinations. Thailand now has 58 JCI-accredited hospitals, more than any other Southeast Asian country.”

The Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Tourism Showcase 2017, under the concept “Thailand: a Paradise for Longevity”, showcased Thailand as a destination for longevity products and services.

Thailand has adopted the latest innovative medicine of the century: “Functional & Regenerative Medicine,” the most popular health trend in the world. In fact, Thailand is the first and only country in Asia that has specialized Functional & Regenerative Medicine hospitals, namely Better Being Hospital and MALI hospital

Moreover, Thailand has become an anti-aging center in Asia with the largest number of American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine-certified medical professionals in Asia with 500 doctors.

“Recently, the government implemented new medical tourism policies extending the visitor stay period to 90 days for members of CLMV countries and Republic of China in order to accommodate medical tourists traveling to Thailand. In addition, the long-stay visa has also been extended to 10 years for 14 countries as follow: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Canada and the U.S. These two recent policies should further enhance the positioning of Thailand to be a world-class medical tourism hub recognized the world over.”

Mr. Noppadon noted: “This is the 4th such event that TAT has organized, and this year we proudly present the top 44 Health and Wellness providers in Thailand. This event will display the potential of Thailand along with its plethora of health and wellness products to international awareness. It will also provide a marketing platform for Thai health and wellness providers to discuss prospective business deals with medical tourism facilitators and travel agencies from across the globe.”

The one-day event highlighted why Thailand is a “Paradise for Longevity”, along with holding an informative presentation on the concept of “Functional & Regenerative Medicine.” In the afternoon, buyers had the chance to discuss business deals with the top 44 health and wellness provider in Thailand, including: General Hospital, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Regenerative Functional Medicine Hospital, Anti-Aging Clinic, Cosmetic & Aesthetic Clinic, Dental Clinic, Cell Therapy Clinic, and Lab Check Up, all of whom were ready to discuss prospective business deals with international buyers.

Mr. Noppadon Pakprot concluded as follows: “We hope that this event will further strengthen the awareness of Thailand as the premier destination for health and wellness tourism, and that the trade event would help generate more than 500 millions Baht to the Thai economy.”

Ms. Jittima Udayachalerm, Director, Royal Orchid Plus Business Unit said, “Royal Orchid Plus is delighted to be part of this global medical tourism event at this time. We’ve created exciting marketing activities to support this project. We’ve organized a special event, inviting Royal Orchid Plus Platinum and Gold members to come and get health check-ups for free, and also given them the chance to meet and buy special packages from the hospitals and clinics at the event. Additionally, we will promote an exclusive health and wellness deal to Royal Orchid Plus members through our online channels, including email, social media, and our website.”

Allure Magazine announces it’s intention to ban the term “anti-aging,” and wipe it from the internet. Another veiled political attack against the successes of anti-aging sciences, but longevity medicine cannot be stopped.

First of all let us applaud the 29 celebrities in the Allure Magazine online article on August 15, 2017 (https://www.allure.com/gallery/celebrities-against-anti-aging) for what appears to be living and eating healthy, adhering to Anti-aging Medical Principles (preventative medicine), getting the proper amount of exercise, possibly buying all natural, non-gmo foods, and being blessed with great genetics.

Unfortunately, being blessed with great genetics alone does not always help someone stay beautiful as they circle the sun more than 40 times. You have to believe that, all though age is inevitable, it is not the only factor that causes your body to deteriorate and grow older.

WorldHealth.net thinks its horrible that some people misuse terms, or that in many cases the wrong message gets attached to good philosophies. WHN doesnt believe in unnecessary plastic surgery, hormonal therapies that are not physician supervised and medically legal, stem cell therapies at the beauty shop, overzealous and sometimes completely fake claims by advertisers such as anti-aging miracle skin creams, nor does WHN or any of its affiliates believe a buzz word or coined term should be used to influence potential consumers. WHN believes that credible noncommercial information should be used as a tool to combat ignorance and protect consumers.

If you are truly interested in the mission of Anti-aging medicine, subscribe to the Longevity Now newsletter here at WorldHealth.net and go to A4M.com and read about this 25 year old revolution. Anti-aging medicine, said Dr. Ronald Klatz, President of the A4M, who is accredited with Coining the Term Anti-aging more than 25 years ago, for the most part is all about inner beauty, it isnt about cosmetic surgery, solely enhancing your appearance, or even living forever. Its about living healthy, growing older with a better quality of life, and slowing down or defeating disease such as Macular Degeneration, Alzheimers, Diabetes, disease associated with Hormone Inadaquacies, and a host of other aliments that affect our bodies from gravity to normal wear and tear. No matter how new or old your car is you have to change the oil at regular intervals or your car simply wont last. I know this is a simply analogy, but our bodies are basically the same. Anti-aging is basically Preventative Medicine that looks stand takes advantage of natural remedies mixed with Scientific Gains to help the 100,000 plus doctors the A4M has trained, help their patients live happier and healthier lives.

Dr. Ronald Klatz went on further to point out, magazines such as Allure hardly focus on or promote inner beauty. They focus on outward appearance, pushing cosmetic goods, promote unbelievably attractive celebrities and models, and then they have the Gaul to take shots at Botox for helping many millions of people try to look and feel a little better. Unfortunately, Allure type magazines give young women unrealistic expectations on a daily basis that you need to look like Hale Berry, or Jennifer Anniston to be beautiful. Thats simply not true, but you do need to live the Anti-aging lifestyle so as you advance in years your dont suffer, and decay in old folks, but rather enjoy life to your last breath. Thats the true Anit-aging message.

WHN would like recognize bias, and WHN is a proponent of Anti-Aging Medicine so therefore WHN is slightly biased. WHN is an opponent of the abuse of the term Anti-aging by advertisers, product peddlers, and financially motivated journalists. For example, WHN can only make guesses as to the intentions of Allure Magazines position on the term Anti Aging. Allure could be talking about skin cream. However, WHN can use the quotes actually published by Allure titled 29 Celebrities That Are Against The Term Anti-Aging to let WHNs readers draw their own conclusions as to the intentions of Allure. If you read the quotes exactly as the appear at https://www.allure.com/gallery/celebrities-against-anti-aging, you will notice that only 3 of 29 beautiful celebrities even mentioned Ant-Aging.

WHN prefers to be honest and avoid Fake News. WHN would like you to know that Jamie Lee-Curtis almost mentioned the term Anti-aging. Instead Jamie refers to Anti-aging as Anti referencing aging in the same sentence before the term Anti which is the word that ends the sentence. Jamie starts the next sentence with Aging with the sentence before ending in Anti. This is simply journalistic dishonesty by a publications editor. This example of lack of journalistic integrity can be seen underlined below in Jamies quote:

I am appalled that the term we use to talk about aging is ‘anti (end of sentence). Aging( Start of new sentence to create Anti. Aging) is as natural as a baby’s softness and scent. Aging is human evolution in its pure form. Death, taxes, and aging.” fromThe Huffington Post

Mr. NoppadonPakprot, Deputy Governorfor Tourism Products and Business at TAT said, “Thailand has long been recognized as a world destination for medical tourism. According to a report by VISA and Oxford Economics, Thailand has once more been confirmed as one of Asia’s top medical tourism destinations. Thailand now has 58 JCI-accredited hospitals, more than any other Southeast Asian country.”

The Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Tourism Showcase 2017, under the concept “Thailand: a Paradise for Longevity”, showcased Thailand as a destination for longevity products and services.

Thailand has adopted the latest innovative medicine of the century: “Functional & Regenerative Medicine,” the most popular health trend in the world. In fact, Thailand is the first and only country in Asia that has specialized Functional & Regenerative Medicine hospitals, namely Better Being Hospital and MALI hospital

Moreover, Thailand has become an anti-aging center in Asia with the largest number of American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine-certified medical professionals in Asia with 500 doctors.

“Recently, the government implemented new medical tourism policies extending the visitor stay period to 90 days for members of CLMV countries andTaiwan in order to accommodate medical tourists traveling to Thailand. In addition, the long-stay visa has also been extended to 10 years for 14 countries as follow: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Canada and the U.S. These two recent policies should further enhance the positioning of Thailand to be a world-class medical tourism hub recognized the world over.”

Mr. Noppadonnoted: “This is the 4th such event that TAT has organized, and this year we proudly present the top 44 Health and Wellness providers in Thailand. This event will display the potential of Thailand along with its plethora of health and wellness products to international awareness. It will also provide a marketing platform for Thai health and wellness providers to discuss prospective business deals with medical tourism facilitators and travel agencies from across the globe.”

The one-day event highlighted why Thailand is a “Paradise for Longevity”, along with holding an informative presentation on the concept of “Functional & Regenerative Medicine. In the afternoon, buyers had the chance to discuss business deals with the top 44 health and wellness providers in Thailand, including: General Hospital, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Regenerative Functional Medicine Hospital, Anti-Aging Clinic, Cosmetic & Aesthetic Clinic, Dental Clinic, Cell Therapy Clinic, and Lab Check Up, all of whom were ready to discuss prospective business deals with international buyers.

Mr. NoppadonPakprot concluded as follows: “We hope that this event will further strengthen the awareness of Thailand as the premier destination for health and wellness tourism, and that the trade event would help generate more than 500 million Baht to the Thai economy.”

Ms. Jittima Udayachalerm, Director, Royal Orchid Plus Business Unit said, “Royal Orchid Plus is delighted to be part of this global medical tourism event at this time. We’ve created exciting marketing activities to support this project. “We’ve organized a special event, inviting Royal Orchid Plus Platinum and Gold members to come and get health check-ups for free, and also given them the chance to meet and buy special packages from the hospitals and clinics at the event. Additionally, we will promote an exclusive health and wellness deal to Royal Orchid Plus members through our online channels, including email, social media, and our website.”

Decades of research have shown that calorie restriction extends lifespan and delays morbidity in many small, short-lived species: yeast, spiders, and various fish and rodents. In humans, though, the benefits of calorie restriction are still unproven, and probably less straightforward. And how calorie restriction slows the aging process is still not well understood. The interesting thing about calorie restriction is that we used to think the body was in some way slowing down, maybe in the number of heartbeats or production of free radicals, says professor of genetics David Sinclair. But it turns out thats wrong.When were calorie restricting, what were really doing is telling the body that now is not the time to go forth and multiply. Its time to conserve your resources, repair things better, fight free radicals, and repair broken DNA.

Sinclair believes that a compound found in all living cells, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), could be used to mimic these effects in humans without the starvation or decreased reproductive capacity associated with calorie restriction; his human trials of a therapy that could increase NAD levels are due to begin this month. Meanwhile, a similar compound is already being marketed as a supplement by a health start-up with several distinguished scientists (including three Harvard faculty members) on its advisory boardeven though theres still no evidence that the substance works.

Sinclairs approach is based on a broad view that links diseases of age such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimers, and heart failure to common cellular processes. His lab aims to understand these processes and then use that understanding to develop medical therapies.

Underlying the wide-ranging benefits of calorie restriction, Sinclair explains, are sirtuinsa group of seven genes that appear to be very important in regulating the aging process. These longevity-gene pathways are turned on by changes in lifestyle such as exercise and calorie restriction, he says. They control a variety of protective processestheres hundreds of things that they do, and we still dont know everything. But they protect the chromosomes, they protect stem cells from being lost, they protect cells from senescing. Sirtuins can be activated by a lack of amino acids or of sugar, or through an increase in NAD. (The compounds level in the body declines with age.)

Earlier this year, research from Sinclairs lab showed that feeding mice nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)a related, precursor compound that the body converts into NADmay slow aging in the animals, mimicking the effects of calorie restriction. We get the same effects as exercise or dieting, he says. The mice are leaner, have more energy. They can run further on a treadmill. That research continues, and is poised to be tested in humans: the first stage of the trials of NMN that he was preparing to begin in August at a Harvard-affiliated hospital will test for NAD increases in the blood; after that, he plans to study NMNs efficacy in treating diseases. Sinclair has been taking the compound himself for about a year. Hes reticent about that, to avoid sounding like a kook, but claims his lipid profile has improved dramatically and he feels generally less fatiguedthough he admits this is not scientific.

There is a cautionary note to sound, says Jeffrey Flier, Walker professor of medicine and former dean of Harvard Medical School (HMS). The NAD precursor already on the market as a dietary supplement, nicotinamide riboside (NR), is sold by New York-based Elysium Health, founded by MIT biologist Leonard Guarente, Ph.D. 79, who played a central role in establishing the link between sirtuins and aging, and was Sinclairs doctoral adviser. The company doesnt make any specific claims about aging prevention (legally, it cant); instead, it promotes its product as the one daily supplement your cells need. Flier has criticized the company for using the names of the highly credentialed scientists on its advisory board (featured prominently on its website) to market an unproven product: Elysium is selling pills [without] evidence that they actually work in humans at all, he says, echoing the strongly worded Boston Globeop-ed he wrote earlier this year condemning the companys marketing scheme.

Sinclair, who co-directs the Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at HMS, is not linked to Elysiumhis clinical trials go squarely down the traditional medical route, rather than through the loosely regulated supplement industry. Thats the contrast, he says. Im taking a pharmaceutical approach, FDA approval. Still, whatever animal research portends about the potential of NAD (and however alluring the promise of a cure for aging), the history of pharmaceutical development suggests its much too soon to expect any benefits for humans. Often molecules may be helpful to animals in a limited set of studies, but then are not shown to be helpful in humans, Flier warns. There are many, many, many examples of that.

In BriefA new study from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute reveals that stem cells taken from younger rats provided older rats with youthful vigor when injected into their hearts. After a month, the rats ran longer, and regrew hair faster.

Old hearts may find new life, according to a new study, which shows that stem cells taken from younger hearts can be used to reverse the aging process. This could potentially cause older hearts to act and perform like younger ones.Click to View Full Infographic

The study, conducted by the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and published by the European Heart Journal, set out to observe the effects of cardiac stem cells on various aspects of the heart, including its function and structure. Prior applications of Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDC) resulted in positive effects, but this was the first time its effects in the aging process were tested. This is different from the tests performed last month at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where the hypothalamus region of the brain was discovered to be a key part of aging in mice.

Cedars-Sinai researchers instead took CDC cells from newborn mice and injected it into the hearts of older mice, while another group of older mice were injected with saline. Blood, echocardiographic, haemodynamic and treadmill stress tests were performed on all mice after injections, with the older groups tested 1 month later.

The mice given the Cardiosphere-derived cells saw a number of benefits compared to their saline counterparts. They had improved heart functionality, were able to exercise 20 percent longer, regrew hair at a faster rate, and had longer heart cell telomeres. This is important because telomeres are compounds found at the ends of chromosomes whose shortening is directly correlated to the aging process.

The way the cells work to reverse aging is fascinating, said Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute Director and Lead Researcher Eduardo Marbn, MD, PhD. They secrete tiny vesicles that are chock-full of signaling molecules such as RNA and proteins. The vesicles from young cells appear to contain all the needed instructions to turn back the clock.

Tests on ratshave shown that CDCs have shown cardiac and systemic rejuvenation on the aging process, but there is much work to do before the anti-aging treatment is tested on people, let alone over the table. Lilian Griorian-Shamagian, MD, PhD, who was co-primary researcher on the study, notes that its still unclear if the cells actually extend the lifespan of the rats, rather than simply providing a new heart in an old body. Its also unknown if CDCs need to be taken from younger hearts in order to be effective. If any CDCs, regardless of their origin, can be used, it could lead to a new round of tests comparing the effects of CDCs from the young to the CDCs from the old or middle-aged.

If stem cells were used for medical purposes, they couldhelp those suffering from heart failure, or the Duchenne muscular dystrophy Marbn and his team are hoping to treat. Beyond that, it could lessen the number of deaths caused by heart disease, which is currently responsible for over 610,000 deaths a year.

Scientists have discovered a new way to stimulate the stem cells in the hair follicle to make hair grow, opening the door to the development of new drugs for those with baldness or alopecia.

UCLA researchers have revealed a new way to activate stem cells within hair follicles that stimulate hair growth. The hope is this discovery will lead the way to the development of drugs that allow bald individuals and those with alopecia to once again grow hair. The research was led by scientists William Lowry and Heather Christofk of UCLA’s Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. The details of theirfindings were recently published in Nature Cell Biology.

About Hair Follicle Stem Cells

Hair follicle stem cells are best described simply as older cells within hair follicles that are present in human skin. They generate hair across an individual’s lifetime. These cells are quiescent, meaning they are typically dormant yet they can activate quite rapidly in a new hair cycle when the growth of new hair occurs. The hair follicle stem cells’ quiescence is regulated by an array of factors. In some instances, they do not activate and hair loss occurs.

Study Details

The researchers determined the metabolism of hair follicle stem cells is unique from other skin cells. Cellular metabolism occurs when nutrients necessary for cell division break down, create energy and react to their environment. The metabolism process makes use of enzymes that changenutrients to generate metabolites. Hair follicle stem cells gradually consume a form of sugar, known as glucose, from the body’s bloodstream. The glucose is processed to gradually create a metabolite known as pyruvate. The cells subsequently send pyruvate to the mitochondria (the portion of the cell that generates energy) or convert pyruvate to another metabolite referred to as lactate.

The researchers blocked the generation of lactate in mice. This prevented the activation of hair follicle stem cells. The UCLA team worked with University of Utah Rutter lab academicians to boost lactate production in mice. This hastened the activation of hair follicle stem cells, causing an increase in the hair cycle. Prior to this, no one knew boosting or decreasing lactate would make an impact on hair follicle stem cells. Now that the researchers have determined how changing lactate production in mice changes hair growth, they can attempt to identify drugs that can be applied to the skin to produce the same effect.

Drugs of Note

The research groups identified a couple drugs that alter hair follicle stem cells in specific ways to boost lactate production when applied to mice skin. One of the drugs, RCGD423, triggers a cell signaling pathway referred to as JAK-Stat that transmits information from outside cells to the cell nucleus. Research shows JAK-Statactivation causes an increase in the generation of lactate. This spurs the activation of hair follicle stem cells and results in faster hair growth.

The second drug of note, UK5099, stops pyruvate from entering mitochondria. This forces the generation of lactate within the hair follicle stem cells, boosting the rate at which hair grows in mice. These experimental drugs were strictly used during pre-clinical testing. They have not been tested in human beings. Nor have these drugs been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe or effective for humans.

Why the Study Matters

This study is important as it provides plenty of insight into the many ways in which stem cells are activated. The idea of using drugs to catalyze hair growth by way of hair follicle stem cells is quite promising considering the millions of individuals who are bald or going bald. The researchers’ findings will help improve the understanding of how metabolism affects hair growth as well as stem cells.

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About Dr. Lonny Green Medical Director Dr. Lonny Green attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. He received his medical degree from UCLA and completed his residency in the Harvard Program in urology. He went on to serve as a registrar at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia before moving to Richmond, Virginia.

Dr. Green is a member of numerous organizations, including the Richmond Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, Obesity Medicine Association, and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics.

He has practiced in Richmond for over 20 years and has been recognized by his peers in Richmond Magazines Top Docs 11 times. Dr. Green sums up his medical outlook as follows: My mission is not just to add years to a patients life, but to also add life to their years.